Page 44 of The Souls of Lost Lake

“I would like to believe so.”

Noah cleared his throat. “If I may be honest?”

“Please,” Sanderson welcomed.

“I find it a far leap of the town to accuse Miss Coons of anything that may have happened to Jipsy. As well as Matthew Hubbard,” he added.

“Hmmm, yes.” Mr. Sanderson didn’t seem upset by Noah’s observation. “Perhaps it is. But you know how rumors spread and people get riled up into nonsense.”

“Seems to me you have enough influence to put such rumors to bed.” A sternness laced Noah’s words.

Ava nodded to herself in the darkness of the desk’s cubby.

“Perhaps, but then I would need to be convinced myself of her innocence to make such a strong assertion, and frankly, I am not.”

“You believe she murdered two people?” Noah countered.

“I believe anyone is capable of anything.”

“Do you have a vendetta against Miss Coons?” Noah wasn’t backing down. Ava looked at his feet. One shoe-clad foot tapped the floor repeatedly in agitation.

“I’m affronted you would imply such a thing.” There was offense in Mr. Sanderson’s tone. “I’m merely looking at the evidence laid before me. Ava Coons is no stranger to the ax, Reverend.”

“She was thirteen when her family was killed.”

“Yes?” Sanderson’s word was weighted with challenge.

Noah shifted in his chair. Ava heard him sniff in aggravation. “A thirteen-year-old young woman could successfully murder her entire family and not be overpowered by her father and two older brothers?”

“Reverend Pritchard, I was not there when Miss Coons’s family died, so I do not have an inkling as to what did or did not occur. What Idoknow is that she is the only surviving member of the Coons family, and, incidentally, she was covered in their blood when she was discovered.”

“Circumstantial,” Noah muttered.

“Or damning,” Sanderson retorted. “It depends on how one looks at it. Regardless, I’m not here to debate the guilt or innocence of Ava Coons. I’m merely here to see if you have, in fact, had contact with your charge? Youwereresponsible for her, you know?”

“Yes, of course I know,” Noah snapped.

“And yet you do not know where Miss Coons is now?”

“No.”

Ava clapped her hand over her mouth. The preacher lied with such ease.

Mr. Sanderson’s chuckle showed a reluctant acceptance of Noah’s lie. “Well then, I suppose I’ve nothing else to ask then. I’ve been aiding the police in the search for Jipsy and her abductor or killer, assuming sheisdead. So, I felt stopping here to chat with you made sense.”

“You’ve not found Jipsy, then?” Noah ventured to ask.

“No. We have not. Widower Frisk is nigh on losing his mind. Who knew the old man actually could have feelings for that woman.”

“And no one has inquired as to what part the widower may have played in Jipsy’s disappearance?” Noah argued.

“The man is beside himself. Inconsolable. One hardly could accuse him of such a crime.”

Noah didn’t reply.

“And the service for Matthew Hubbard,” Mr. Sanderson continued, “preparations are going well?”

Noah must have nodded. “I need to meet with the family later this afternoon.”